Hi there, I'm Nichole.

My floral career began in 2000 at a fancy little flower shop in Palm Springs, California. It was there that I had the amazing opportunity to work with an array of clientele, including two retired u.S. Presidential families. This was the beginning of my creative floral journey for which I am grateful. In 2002, my husband and I moved to the Seattle area where I began working at Belle Fleur Florist in the Clyde Hill area of Bellevue, Washington. It was there that I gained most of my floral skills, with a hunger to learn everything I could - creating beautiful arrangements that would bring our clients joy. somewhere in-between, i completed my degree at northwest university and studied floral design in London, taking classes at the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers, and with Jamie Aston - one of london's top designers. This has influenced my work greatly, bringing the natural, romantic style of English gardens to my designs.

In 2010, I acquired Florarama Modern Design, which now has grown into our present Florathérapie™ brand. I’ve been blessed and honored to have my work published in magazines and blogs such as: Style Me Pretty, grace ormonde wedding style, Ruffled, 100 Layer Cake, Magnolia Rouge, Wedding Chicks, Occasions, Seattle Met Bride & Groom, Inside Weddings, WedLuxe, Pacific Weddings, and others. internationally, my work has been featured in UK’s Wedding Flowers Magazine, Australia’s Modern Wedding Magazine, and Hochzeitsguide wedding blog in Germany. You can learn more about my story, how Florathérapie™ was born, and other design influences below.

My connection to nature was rooted as a child in San Luis Obispo, California. The beauty of the ocean, sand always between my toes, and the smell of the sea air unique to the region: a blend of seaweed & salt intermingled with eucalyptus trees and sun-warmed wild sage from the nearby hillsides...sweet memories that fill my mind. I think I was born with an appreciation of the natural world and a deep love for the beauty of God’s creation. My dad was in agriculture, and a beekeeper with 280 hives scattered between California’s Central Coast and Central Valley. My childhood was bountifully filled with plenty of fresh honeycomb, bee stings, and a family camaraderie with the local farmers as I was frequently in different fields of cotton, corn, fruit and nut trees. Our kitchen counter was always filled with gifts of fresh fruit from those fields.

Growing up in a big Portuguese (Azorean) family, my hometown seemed largely Portuguese, with many friends and families also descending from the Azores. Because of this, I grew up with an appreciation of culture and a love for traveling. I feel most alive when I’m abroad, immersed in foreign sights, smells, sounds and people. And I believe all these elements come through in my design style. Flowers have become my connection to the natural world and the language I use to tell my clients’ stories...their own expressions are seen in the bouquets and flowers that adorn their wedding day.

After owning Florarama for 6 ½ years and 148+ weddings, my desire expanded in 2016 as a deepening need to use flowers to help people led me to Horticultural Therapy. Out of this passion to connect people with the healing benefits of plants and gardening, my new brand, Florathérapie™ was born. To learn more about this vision, please visit the Floratherapy page.

While pursuing this new endeavor, I’m also working towards becoming a Registered Horticulture Therapist and professional member of the American Horticultural Therapy Association. I’m currently enrolled in classes at the Horticultural Therapy Institute through Colorado State University. When I’m not working, I’m enjoying every minute I have being a wife and mama to our son, Noble Zane. We love our family adventures of traveling, cooking - especially passed down Portuguese family recipes, usually loaded with a ton of garlic and smoked paprika - gardening, being outdoors by water, and feasting on great food in our region (we do a lot of eating around here!) We love life. And the mission we share at home and in my business is to love God and enjoy Him in everything, while sharing that love with others.